Motor operated liquid measuring dispenser



Feb. 22, 1955 1. L. LOPATA MOTOR OPERATED LIQUID MEASURING DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

AUOfiA/[YS Filed March 1 1951 Feb. 22, 1955 1 LOPATA 2,702,655-

MOTOR OPERATED LIQUID MEASURING DISPENSER Filed March 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2. J /3 /i /j/ \/jl F Q- Z 25 30 E f 23 29 Z6 37 I 37 24 INVENTOR. //a A. Zapata MMVQW.

United States Patent MOTOR OPERATED LIQUID MEASURING DISPENSER In L. Lopata, Warren Point, N. J., assignor to Henry and Henry, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application March 1, 1951, Serial No. 213,426

4 Claims. 01. 222-182) This invention relates to liquid dispensing equipment, and more particularly to a soda fountain accessory for dispensing topping for sundaes and the like, and for dispensing syrup for ice cream sodas, milk shakes, and the like. Heretofore toppings and the like have been ladled from a container by means of a ladle, and often resulted in the topping dripping from the ladle over the edge of the container and the sundae, creating a messy and unwholesome condition. And heretofore syrups and the like have been dispensed by manually operated, inaccurate plunger-type pumps. Furthermore, these well known methods have made it almost impossible to serve uniform quantities of topping or syrup, but rather, irregular portions, even to the extent of involving waste. invention may include heating or refrigerating elements to dispense topping or syrup at appropriate temperatures.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser by which the fluid content will be uniformly dispensed in a practical manner. Further, the invention has for its object to provide a dispenser of practical design to enable ready access to the working partswhich latter are simplified and reduced in number to a minimum.

.The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as the description progresses, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the dispenser as it would appear if viewed on the plane of line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view through the ejecting or delivery nozzle; and

'Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the nozzle valve.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a base having a platform 2 on which the dish may be placed to receive the topping or syrup, or

fudge dispensing mechanism which comprises an electromagnet 6 and a vertically disposed armature or cover 7 which is carried at the lower end of a vertical rod 8 that is connected at its upper end by a play connection, such as a cross pin 9 sliding in a slot 10, to a rockable lever 11. This connection enables an axial movement of the core 7. The lever is fulcrumed on a pin 12 carried by the cover or lid 13 for the pot 4. The opposite end of the lever provides a relatively longer arm which overhangs the fudge pot and suspends the plunger 14 by means of a connecting rod 15. The lid 13 is pivotally mounted by pins 13 on the upstanding ears 13" of the standard 5.

The plunger 14 reciprocates within a measuring chamber 16 and has an ejecting or feeding stroke downward and a refilling stroke upward, with the plunger normally resting in the upper end of the chamber. This normal resting position for the plunger is located within the pot containing the fluid topping or syrup. If topping or syrup requires serving at an elevated temperature, heating is supplied by element 17. Consequently, the fluid will freely flow through the transfer openings 18 of the plunger into the lower portion of the measuring chamber from where it will be ejected through the nozzle on the next descending stroke of the plunger. During such feeding stroke the openings 18 are automatically closed by a valve 19 which is loosely suspended on a reduced This ice

If topping or syrup requires serving at a reduced temperature, cooling coils would supplant heating element 17.

The nozzle 3 is provided with a valve chamber 23 and a delivery orifice 24. It is threaded onto the bottom wall 25 of the measuring chamber 16, such wall having a port 26 which is normally closed by a valve 27 under the urge of a spring 28. The valve is cylindrical in shape to conformably fit the port 26 and has an encircling flange 29 for engaging the seat 30. The valve is given a guided movement by having its spider-like stem 31 slidably fitting within the port 26. The spring 28 rests at its lower end upon the cup-shaped nozzle 3 and has its upper end reacting against the under face of the valve to hold it normally seated. Access to the valve and its supporting the valve 24 works as a plunger within the cylinderforming port.

When the electromagnet 6 is energized, as by closing its base-mounted switch 32, it will exert an upward attractive force upon the actuating rod 8 and a downward push upon the plunger rod 15 to actuate the plunger on Uponits ejecting stroke within the measuring chamber. the release of the starting switch 32, the plunger will lift through the fluid topping under the urge of one or more coil springs 33 which are supported upright by guide posts 34 on the magnet housing 35 to react downwardly upon a bracket 36 fixed to the rod 8. During the active stroke of the plunger the bracket 36 will slide upon the guide posts as the springs compress to store up energy 1 for the subsequent intaking stroke wherein the fluid bypasses the plunger to fill the measuring chamber therebeneath.

The initial portion of the attractive movement that is imparted to the core-plunger unit 714'by the electromagnet would ordinarily be faster than the final portion by reason of the fact that the coil springs offer increased resistance as their compression progresses. For retarding this initial movement, and thereby tending to render the plunger movement more uniform on its ejection stroke, the springs are enveloped in tubular casings or sleeves 37 capable of collapsing or buckling when compressed axially. These casings may be formed of rubber permitted by them. The result is that the plunger movement is initially held down until the spring resistance builds up sufliciently to take over the control of the ejecting plunger.

To avoid lifting the ejecting plunger with the lid, its suspending rod 15 is detached from the lever 11. This uncoupling is preferably accomplished automatically with the unlatching of the lid. Herein, an electromagnetic coupling 40 is carried by the lever and designed normally to receive the upper end 41 of the rod. A micro switch 42 is connected electrically to the coupling and is designed to be opened by depressing the slidable knob 43 of the latch to unlatch the lid. The latch 38 is conveniently carried by the slidable member 43 for being disengaged from its shoulder 39 preliminary to the deenergization of the rod coupling magnet 40. The coupling, switch and lever are housed within the hollow lid and may be enclosed by a cover plate 44, which seats on the rim of the pot, such plate having an opening 45 which freely passes the plunger rod.

The size or volume of the ejected charge or increment of the topping may be regulated by adjusting the stroke 'of the electromagnetic core 7. Herein, this is accomplishedby providing a support or stop 46 on which the core Wlll rest when the actuating or power magnet 6 is deenergized. The .support 46 is arranged on the upper.

endof an adjusting -sc1ew47, threaded through a bracket structure '48,=by which the support'may be elevated or lowered to vary the volume or size of the ejected porno V V V A masterlswitch fl may beprovided forsupplying cur-. rent to, the actuatmgmagnet 6 as well as the magnetic clutch 40. In operation, a dish of ice cream is placed upon the piatform '2 underneath the nozzle 3, and thereafter the 'plenish the topping supply in the pot 4, the button 43 is depressed to nulatch the lid and deenergize the magnet 40 so that the 'lid mayzbe lifted from the pot while leaving the plunger within its measuring chamber 16. The action' of the power magnet 6 is made substantially uniform by reason of the retarding "action of the rubber sleeves 37 during the initial portionof the ejecting stroke and while the resisting ettort of the springs 33 are being developed or built up.

Since the power magnet has only a single moving part, namely the core 7, the necessity to lubricate the power unit is avoided. The use of the electromagnetic coupling of clutch provides "a simple arrangement which expedites the procedure in gaining access to the topping or fudge containing pot since the uncoupling of the plunger may be accomplishedreadily without the use of tools. The dispenser-is rendered drip-proof byreason of the suction action of the cylindrical valve as it moves to its seat to thereby withdraw the topping or syrup content within the dischargeorifice 24. The volume of the ejected portion is readily regulated by adjusting the screw 47.

'While the foregoing description has been given in de tail and refers primarily'to the dispensing of topping or syrup, it is appreciated that the dispenser might be employed for ejecting predetermined volumes of other fluent bodies. With certain liquids, such as whipping cream, a difierent discharge orifice formation may be required. Inlieu of the heating coil about the pot it may be desirable to replace it with a cooling coil tending to refrig erate a liquid body. While the dispenser is admirably adapted for soda'fountain use, it is apparent that the novel'consn'uction is equally well adapted for feeding and dispensing other materials and therefore the use of the terms fudge, topping and liquid are employed synonymously and ma comprehensive sense to include all fluent materials whether in granular, paste or liquid form.

Therefore, the detailed description has been made for the purpose of clarifying the disclosure and not by way of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a

l. A liquid dispenser comprising a pot, a hinged lid therefor, anozzle from thepot having ameasuring chamher with a discharge orifice, areciproactory plunger in the chamber having a suspending rod, an actuator within the lid having an electromagnetic couplingior coupling to the rod, means :for locking the .lid operative, and a switch in circuit with the coupling'and operable by and during the unlocking of the lid to release the rod from the latter. 7

2. A liquid dispenser comprising a pot; a nozzle leading from the pot having a measuring chamber with a dis charge orifice, a reciprocatorypluuger in-the chamber having a suspending rod, an actuator having an electromagnetic coupling for coupling to the rod adapted to free the rod from the actuator by and upon deen'ergization of the coupling, and an eleetrom'a'gnet separate "from, the coupling having its :core connected to the actuator to reciprocate the plunger. 7

'3. A "liquid dispenser comprising a pot, 'a hinged lid.

therefor, a nozzle leading from the pot and having a discharge orifice, a reciprocatory displacing member, an actuator carried by the lid and having an electromagnetic coupling for operatively coupling the displacing member thereto, and 'a switch in "circuit with the coupling and operable to release thejdisplacing 'memb'er to free the lid for being opened independently thereof.

4. A liquid dispenser "comprising a pot, a'lid therefor, a nozzle leading from the pot having a measuring chamber with a discharge or ifice, a re'ciprocatory plunger in the chamber having a suspending rod, an actuator for reciprocating the rod carried by the lid and having an electromagnetic coupling for 'op'eratively coupling the actuator to the rod, and means mounting said lid and said pot with said actuator'and sald rod'rn position to be coupled together by said coupling and "adapted to permit rod-actuator uncoupling relative displacement of said lid from said pot to permit disassembly of "the parts after deenergization of said coupling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 705,047 Dies July 22, 1902 813,402 Chase Feb. '27., "1906 1,776,659 Getfon et al. Sept. '23, 1930 1,871,989 Heitger Aug. 16,1932 1,946,473 Babendreer 'et a1 Feb."l3,1934 2,005,089 Krebs June '18, 1935, 2,104,990 Hoefler Jan. 11, 1938 2,522,677 Kelly Sept. 19, 1950 2,546,745 Hein Mar.'27, 1951 2,552,195 Lopata May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,878 Switzerland June 1', 1948 

